Do you believe...

in magic...in a young girl's heart?  Oops, sorry...that's not what I wanted.

Coincidence?  Do you believe in coincidence?

Do you believe that we just walk through life and random things happen to us or don't happen to us totally by accident?

Or do you believe that everything happens to us for a reason, for a learning experience, to bring us the support we need at the time we need it, to show us just who really is in control of our lives?

I'm not getting into a discussion here over God, Buddha, Allah, Spirit, Kismet, or anything in between - I believe in a combination of God and Spirit or God in the Spiritual sense.  I was raised in a German Lutheran home - of course, I believe in God.  Anyway, not my point.

I believe that my life was totally changed by one broken pop bottle.

In this past well, wow - it's been almost a year already, since my we'll call it a "coincidence" changed my life path.  I look back at the sad, lost, miserable, hurt person that I was then.  When I go back, in my mind to the day of my "coincidence", I can actually see the black cloud looming over my head.

My sister was here for a day or so, on a pass through, heading home.  We took some time to go check out downtown, parked and walked over to check out a little specialty foods store.  I didn't pay any attention to where we had parked.  I was excited to find that this store carried gourmet cherry cola - well, 1 - Cherry is my A#1, most favorite ever, and B - the girl said it's really close to a cherry cola that I tried up north a few years ago.  With that, I was sold.  I bought a bottle and a couple different flavors of hummus.

We were walking back to my truck, talking, not paying much attention, I switched hands with my purchase, dropped it and my coveted bottle of cherry cola broke!  Thankfully, it was all contained within the bag but, oh man!  My sister took my other purchases while I cleaned up the mess and I was to meet her at the truck but, when I got back, she wasn't there.

I looked up and I knew right where she went.  I looked up and I see the store I had parked in front of Reflexions Plus.  I knew.  I knew that's where she went.  I opened the door and I saw my sister but, I also saw this woman with short, crazy blond hair.  I saw her and I had this overwhelming sense of I need to spend time with this woman, I need to know her, to work with her, I need her in my life - I don't know why - I just do! 

I told myself that I was going to attend the Community Reiki night they offer and I did.  And I haven't looked back.  I've taken a few classes in the shop.  It's now one of the places I'm selling my soaps.  It's a place I love to visit and all of the people I have met there are simply fantastic!

My life, my thoughts, my dreams, my goals all took on a totally new direction since that day.  I mean - I certainly never thought I'd be making soap as a side job!  I never thought I'd drop a day from my full-time job.  Do I believe this change in my life was simply a coincidence?  I certainly don't.  Do I believe that our lives are predestined, that our paths have already been created?  Yes, I do.  Do I believe that the path can change based on the choices that we make or don't make, yes I do.

I, I believe that my life was totally changed by one broken pop bottle.  It wasn't a coincidence.  I was supposed to drop that bag.  I was supposed to meet that crazy haired lady.  I was supposed to find new energy and new passions for my self.  It was already in my path.

To do list

Before Jacob and I were struck with The Plague last weekend, the three of us sat down and actually made a list of things we want to do or see this summer.  Mostly little day trips here and there but, all things we have an interest in checking out!

Chicago - this is already planned for Jacob's spring break.  Down and back on Amtrack.  We're staying close to Union Station - Chicago.  We have planned a walking trip to a Chicago Firehouse as well.
**UPDATE - I have been selected for Jury duty April 1-15.  I sent in my paperwork to hopefully have it changed to the next time slot.  Done.  See here, here, here, and here.

Camping (hopefully on Lake Michigan) but at least in our backyard.  Done!  Saturday night July 8, 2011

Gilmore Car Museum  done see here

Grand Rapids Children's Museum

Jacob's Gotcha Day  Done!  We celebrated with dinner at Daddy's work and cupcakes.

West Michigan Fly-in - Typically the last full weekend in June.  He did this with Grandma & Grandpa S while we were at my reunion.
**UPDATE - This would be the weekend of my 20 year class reunion!  Yes, I said 20!

Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery done - see here

Swimming in Lake Michigan - the day we'd planned it was 104...since then, it's toooo cooold!

Binder Park Zoo  See here

Gail's 20 year class reunion. 

Either my dad's or my mom's family reunion (only 1 of my mother's 4 sisters have met Jacob!) - We attended my dad's on August 13.  I forgot my camera!

Gerald R. Ford Museum

A trip to the movies to see Cars 2 (releases June 24, 2011)  Done!  Saturday July 8, 2011

Allegan Antique Market

West Michigan Whitecaps Game - Hopefully we can make a Quad City River Bandits (St. Louis Cardinals Minor League team) - May 31, June 1, or June 2

Jeremy's 40th Birthday - Party set for August 27, 2011

Moo-Ville Quality Creamery

Allegan's July 3 Jubilee  see here

Of course, this makes for some interesting blog fodder for the spring/summer and of course some great pictures of my cute kid and his smiling face!  We're really looking forward to tackling this list and if you're interested in joining us on our excursions, please send me a note and we'll try to work it out.

Sparkles and Twinkles

There's nothing special about today.  No milestones.  Nothing important.  Just a regular old day except I miss my dad!

I look at my brother and my sisters sometimes and I wonder how things are distributed.  I don't mean monetary things or tangible things, I mean - take for instance - I'm the emotional one.  I'm the one who cries easily, not just because I'm sad, also because I'm happy.  I cry in church because of the strong memories of my dad, I cry when Pastor gives Jacob a blessing, I had said before that I can't sing the "Happy Birthday" song to Jacob without crying - it turns out I can't sing it at all, to anyone!  I typically feel things very deeply and I wonder who I inherited that from?

I was talking to my brother this morning about my dad. I may have said this before, my dad had this amazing twinkle in his eye.  Every time he smiled, it was there.  You could see it - it came out just like the cheesy "ting" in a movie.  My brother reminded me this morning about my dad's quick wit, his dry sense of humor, and how that sparkle would show up just before the zinger he was about to deliver.  It's like his eyes knew that the smile was coming and they couldn't wait for it any longer.  Sadly, none of us inherited his twinkle.

I think of my dad often when I'm with Jacob.  Sometimes, I wonder if Jacob inherited my dad's spirit - I don't know if I believe in reincarnation but, I certainly believe that my dear old dad had a hand in bringing Jacob to us.  Jacob is so much like my dad used to be.  My dad would sit on our front porch for hours and watch the cars go by.  He'd wave to folks that he knew.  He loved to go to the airport and watch the planes take off or land.  My Jacob's first word was car.  He said it while sitting on my lap watching the cars pass by.  This summer, we'll spend many evenings at the airport watching the new pilots practice take-offs and landings - as well as our skydivers go up and jump.  I can't tell you how many people have approached us saying Jacob has waved to them or said 'hello' to them on the street.  In fact, we had told my sister when she was here not to worry about getting lost, everyone in town knows where Jacob belongs.  Many people in Manistee knew my dad and would stop to talk with him when he was on the porch.

I'm sure no matter how old I get, I'll always miss my dad.  I'll always have those little moments, little memories, when I think to myself, "I wish my dad was here."  In my heart, I know that he is always here.  I know he sees all of the things I wish for.  And then I'll see his smiling face...that twinkle in his eye, and the tears will fall again.

Whatta Wednesday Cont.

In addition to all of the excitement yesterday, Jacob also had his Pyogenic Granuloma removed.  If you consider Jeremy and I holding Jacob down while he screamed like no other, going well, then it went well.

Also, Grand Rapids Fire Department was doing training down the street from the Dr. office.  And Kentwood Fire Department was checking hydrants - every time they'd stop to check one, they would turn on all the lights on the Fire Engine, and we were just down the street from one of the biggest hospitals in the area and saw about a dozen ambulances.  We also saw four Michigan State Police cars!  Yet it wasn't quite enough to distract Jacob from the task at hand.

Before:

(the surrounding area is red as we also found that Jacob has a slight allergy to bandage adhesive)

After:

They gave 2 shots to numb the area, snipped off the "bubble" (as Jacob calls it), and cauterized it (that is tops on my list of favorite smells!).  Jacob asked why they put his bubble in the baby bottle.  And he now refers to this area as "my hole".  Though the "ban-bain" is off, he won't allow us to touch it.  We can only look - after we PROMISE not to touch.

It's healing uncovered for now.  We haven't had any issues with spotting and Jacob hasn't complained about any pain.  I think he has had a few moments of discomfort - many of uncertainty with it but, he's doing just fine!

Whatta Wednesday!

Our day began with this:

It's an old Allegan Fire Dept. patch I had purchased for Jacob from a popular on-line auction site. 

And this...

is the portrait of the villain who destroyed it and brought Jacob to tears.

As the mom, it's my job to fix it!

Jeremy and I took Jacob to preschool this morning, we went out for our breakfast, and went to our local (every city has such a store, right?) firefighter, police, paramedic, supply store to see if they had a patch to replace our chewed one.  The guy (who is one of Allegan's fire fighters and lives around the corner and down the street) has a wall full of patches from various departments he's done work for but, he didn't have an extra of this patch.   SHIT!  He says it's been replaced by a newer patch that we can only get from the fire chief.  Okay. Next stop.

We're at the fire station talking to Chief and I tell him my problem with our dragon patch but...he can't help me, he doesn't have one.  Instead, he opens his drawer and pulls out one of these:

A REAL Allegan Fire District patch!  It's the same one he wears on his shirt.

Then we're talking a little more and he opens his drawer again. 

And gives me this:

Now this patch, is an even more RARE patch than the one I was looking for as Allegan Township Fire no longer exists.  The city fire and township fire merged to create the Allegan Fire District.

Chief, Jeremy, and I were talking about how to help Jacob understand though he loves to see the firetrucks, the ambulances, and the firefighters - how it makes his day - someone else's day has been ruined.  You know, a little compassion.  As we were talking to Chief and his 2nd Chief (who came in to join us), their pagers went off, they looked at each other, said "That's us!" and they both ran out the door.  We heard something over their radios about a structure fire and we just plain got out of the way!

And then decided to follow the trucks.  I didn't have my camera but, yeah...it was a fire alright!  We could see the smoke from down the road and the bright orange flames coming out of the roof.

When we picked Jacob up from school, we took a drive out to the fire so Jacob could see.  He was telling us he'd heard the sirens at school.  "A lot of sirens!" 

We're, of course, praying for the family who lost their home this morning.

And our dedicated firefighters who worked hard to put the fire out.

A Fireman's Prayer...

When I am called to duty, God

Wherever Flames may rage,

Give me strength to save some life

Whatever Be its age.

Help me embrace a little child

Before it is too late,

Or save an older person from

The horror of that fate.

Enable me to be alert and

Hear the weakest shout,

And quickly and efficiently

To put the fire out.

I want to fill my calling

And give the best in me,

To guard my every neighbor

And protect their property.

And if according to your will

I should lose my life,

Please bless with your protecting hand

My children and my wife.

-Author Unknown

Just do it!

Why am I so hesitant?  What am I waiting for?  Why am I stalling?  Am I afraid to take the chance?  Am I scared to fail?  Am I just depressed because it's cold and dark and snowy all. The. TIME?

I did a few shows this fall with my soaps.  I did well.  I did well at Christmas.  I've had a few offers to sell on consignment and I want to take up those offers which is where all of the questions bombard me.

#1 - $30/month for the space.  Six months to be paid in advance = $180.  I'd have to sell 60 bars to make up for that, plus sell 10 bars a month to keep up.  I'm not willing to risk that yet.  Nope.

#2 - "Call me, we'll work something out".  So?  What's the problem?

#3 - "You can sell here if you'd like."  Okay, and now I need to revamp my line a little to do that.  Not that I'm being asked to but, because I have so much respect for this place and the people that I want to give them only the best.  Essential Oils, natural products, and made when I'm at my best.  I don't feel like I'm at my best.

I am a little discouraged.  I was hoping for at least some new contacts - maybe some re-orders by now.  My nephew said - "Aunt Gail - not everyone showers 3 times a day every day like you do - we normal people don't go through soap THAT fast!"  He's right - and I'm trying to remember that and my soap lasts about twice as long as a store bought soap, plus most people bought 3/4 bars to give as gifts - and that might take some extra time to get through.  Though if you know how impatient I am...you know how hard this is for me!  To wait - to just wait...

That said.

I'm just gonna do it!  I am!  Plain and simple.  I'm going to move forward and do it!

I'm going to make Tangerine soap with Essential Oil and Lavender soap too.  I'm gonna take those to #3 and sell 'em!

I'm going to call #2 and work out an agreement and get an assortment of soaps in her store too!
I'm even going to approach another store and see what I can do there!

I'm going to make my lip balm as planned.  And see what my testers think of it.

I'm going to get cracking on these Valentine's Day soaps.  They're conversation hearts - but soap! 

I'm going to post more pictures and get my website on the move!

I just going to do it!

Strange little foodies

**Most of the strange behaviors you are about to read are only done in the privacy of my own home.  I do not subject the general public to my freakish eating habits.**

Yesterday morning, I wanted French toast for breakfast.  By wanted, I mean WANTED!  But, you see we were out of sliced cheese and well, that means no French toast for me.  Cheese, you ask?  Yes, Cheese, I say!  I make French toast as most people do - eggs, vanilla, water or milk, and a pinch of sugar, dip the bread and put it in the pan.  Not so weird, right?  Hold that thought...as I do the final flip, I put in a slice of cheese between two French toasts (like a grilled cheese),  once the cheese has melted and the sandwich is on my plate, I spread on some peanut butter (only the creamy will do!) then cover with syrup.  YUM!

As I was thinking about French toast - some other strange things came to mind. 

Bologna Sandwiches - must include bread & butter pickles - not on the side, on the sandwich - between the bread! 

Pancakes come with sausage - links not patties.  I prefer to roll the sausage inside the pancake and dip into the syrup.

Turkey Sandwich with coleslaw in/on it.  Not on the side!

Beer - with ice!   Makes it really COLD and if you drink it fast enough, it doesn't get watered down.

Lipton Noodles & Sauce - Chicken with a can of corn mixed in.  One of my faves when Jeremy is working at night.  I used to eat it often when I lived by myself.  It was cheap and made 2 meals!  I've also made Beef Noodles & Sauce with peas but it's not as good.

I only eat greenish bananas.  I will eat yellow ones but they must. not. have. spots.  No spotty bananas!

I also love Velveeta Shells and Cheese with hot dogs and frozen peas mixed in. 

Peas are my favorite veggie, next is broccoli.

My latest fave is a Red Delicious apple, quartered with slices of Colby Jack Cheese.  I eat a bite of apple and a bite of cheese, chewing them together.  I LOVE the sweet of the apple with the savory of the cheese!

Please feel free to share your weirdness.  I like to know that I'm not alone. :)